We have some friends who live in the British Isles. They laughingly describe Americans as "Those people who get off the tour bus, the men wearing leisure suits, and the women wearing pants with an x-large blouse hanging outside the pants to hide the girth", and asking, "which way to the Castle?" I got a kick out of that description, as It often did seem that way.
John
I wonder what castle that might be. I have a castle about one mile away from me.
Shirley
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They live in Aberystwyth, Dyfed. He was a professor there at the university. As I remember, there is not much of a castle, mostly ruined.
John
DH says much the same thing -- he can't believe how many quilters are "fluffy". Of course, I remind him that many of the fellows who hang out at the sports book to watch the games are equally well-padded. ;)
I'm with you, Leslie -- I would love to update my mental images!
In looking around the midwest I have noticed that the locals, both men and women, have a larger amount of, shall we say, presence, than was showing out in California. I always figured it was the indoor winter months, spent eating and not getting as much exercise, that caused the lack of "Girth Control". California seemed to be more obsessed with appearances, than back here, also. With the more temperate climate, people could get out and engage in sports and recreational activities, to a greater degree, than back here. The other thing that I have noticed, is the much higher incidence of Diabetes, here in the midwest. I think that is another byproduct of the ever expanding waistlines, and eating choices.
John
John, yesterday Russ and I saw outside a local grocery store sharing lunch and people watching. He made the comment that there are significantly more "big" people than when we moved her 10 years ago. I agree. Now, I've put on a bit of poundage in the last 10 years. In my defense, I'm taking four medications every day that each have "significant weight gain" as a side effect (more butt effect for me). But Russ was talking about really large people -- those who appear to be on the verge of serious illness because of their weight. I'm assuming some of them are also taking medications that cause weight gain. And we all know the insidious nature of weight gain -- gain weight, makes it harder to get out and move, sit around, eat more from depression over how you look, gain more weight. But I think what we were seeing is what's happening all over the country. And it cuts across ethnic, gender, class lines. More people are seriously, scarily over weight than just 10 years ago. Why is that? Are the food companies sneaking high fructose corn syrup into our broccoli?
Sunny with my own expanded waistline and poor eating choices.
Having worked in a nursing home, I don't have enough room here to say all the things that being obessed has done to them. So many health ailments all due to their eating to much. Then add in those who had to h ave knee replacement because of their weight. I could go on and on. And look at our kids these days.
Another thing I discovered at work, is that all the women who wore pointed shoes (high or not) now had permanent toes that would not uncross. All their slippers and other footware had to be cut to fit their feet.
One thing that will changed down the road at nursing home/clients of caregivers/whatever....will be all those who are young now and have so many tatoos. For some, it will be hard to even find a place to give or draw blood.
My working days will be over by then. :)
Donna in WA who power talks just about everyday
I don't award myself any points for being skinny. I just am. But - Mississippi is #1 in fat people and the state's health bureaucrat says it's because we are poor and don't have access to healthy food. @#$! Polly
"DEM" Having worked in a nursing home, I don't have enough
My dad remembers not a day as a kid in Florida that he didn't go hungry. He worked from age 8. I wouldn't wish that on anyone but he is going to be 85 in a couple of months and has led a pretty healthy life. He probably wouldn't have been one of the kids that got fed free breakfast and lunch at school and then tossed it. I bet many of the chubby kids not only have a tv but cable also. Dad claims he never stole because he was hungry. That was no excuse. There is a difference in the caliber of character these days. It crosses all socio-economic boundaries and pretty lacking all over the place. Taria
I don't award myself points, either. I hate it. And I hate it when people make skinny-remarks. It's really hurtful. You wouldn't dream of making the same remarks to large people about their size. Oklahoma is pretty high on the list for obesity, and especially obesity in children. You're right about that -- cheap food is mostly starchy stuff. Plus, our culture is to drown everything in gravy and/or season it with bacon grease. Then throw in a fried side dish and a salad loaded with Ranch dressing. (ever looked at the nutrition label on that stuff??)
I have good kids. But if I was granted one "do-over", I'd have gotten my son off the couch, and away from the video games, and send him outdoors. And I'd have tried harder to develop good eating habits in him. I worry about him a lot. He has sleep apnea, high BP. He is only 27.
The "obesity epidemic" they refer to isn't a simple problem with a simple solution. It has many levels and it's complex.
I don't know about the word "epidemic". The powers that be like to throw that word around. But I do know that the large hospital my daughter works at had to order many more extra-large wheelchairs and extra-wide gurneys because patients are so much larger than they used to be.
Sherry
Sherry
This is way off topic but please explain the problems with giving and drawing blood for those with tattoos. My son Tivos and replays on fast forward many of the cooking shows. I am alarmed at the number of young people featured on these programs starting to cover their entire bodies in tattoos. The same can be seen in the sports world. Has anyone warned them to keep a spot clear for future blood work?
Yeah, I am interested in the reason, also. None of my tattoos cover where they draw blood.
For anyone who does have a pierced lip or tongue on this group, or knows someone with the same, is the sense of taste affected? It seems like the stud would certainly irritate the delicate mucous membranes of the mouth.
G> This is way off topic but please explain the problems with giving and
The possiblilty of contrating hepatitis is greatly increased with tattoos. That's why they don't allow blood donation from colorful clients. I have an acquaintance who recently lost his brother from the disease and it was suspicioned he had contracted it from being tattooed. I know everyone claims the utmost sterility, but the incidence is still a risk factor and the blood banks can't take the chance. As far as keeping an area un-tatted for blood work....I have no idea if that's an issue. Piercings? Dentists get more business from the mouth ones.
I've been noticing that with the kids, in the neighborhood and at school functions.
Back when I was in school, *mumbledy-mumble* years ago, the "fat kids" were notable because there were so few of them -- on the realm of maybe 3-5% of the school population? Definitely under 10%! And most adults were not particularly heavy, either, I'd guess around 10% there.
Now I wouldn't be surprised if a quarter or more of the high school kids are overweight. Even the "trim" ones are larger around than when I was in school. Even my daughter's waist is 3-4" bigger around than mine was at her age. Adults who are overweight are close to half the population.
What's doing it? Fast food? Larger servings? Food additives? Less doing stuff outside and more sitting inside in A/C comfort working on sedentary tasks? Probably a combination of the above.
I'm not sure but I'm really getting nostalgic for the 60's and early 70's.
Dragonfly (Pam)
I don't know about broccoli, but last week I wanted some plain yogurt for a tzatziki recipe. I bought something labeled "plain yogurt", started to dump it into a bowl, and took a lick. It tasted awfully sweet for yogurt, so I took a look at the label. It contained sugar and high fructose corn syrup -- definitely not what I would call plain yogurt. My husband ate it and I went back to the store for really plain yogurt -- but read the label carefully before buying.
Julia in MN
I don't, but my girlfriend pierced her tongue. According to kiripet, no problem with either taste or sensation. Many online friends have lip or tongue piercings also, and none of them have reported any taste or sensation problems as a result.
Most reports of sensation loss are found within the realms of more personal piercings, and most often seem to be directly related to keloid formation, a sort of out of control scar tissue build up. Mind you that is with properly done professsional piercings. One can only guess at the problems experienced by people that allow amateurs to have a go at them with sewing needles.
So far as blood drawing and such, none of my tats are anywhere that that should be a problem either. But when it comes to tats or piercings, there is a great deal of what I believe to be willful stupidity on the part of many medical professionals. A good many of them seem to take great joy in cutting off jewelry, instead of simply removing it properly, given the slightest provocation. I know that every darn time I have been at the hospital for anything they always reach for the bolt cutters. Fortunately I have always been concious and able to forstall that action by simply removing the jewelry myself. At least one PA actually acted disappointed, and what he was going for was a flipping nostril screw! No neither my nose nor face was damaged. It was pre-op for removing an ovarian cyst, and I had simply removed my earrings (nine of them) first. You can bet I got that screw out in a hurry when he started bringing those cutters towards my face! Kiri had already removed my last capture bead ring for me while I was getting the earrings, so the fellow was completely without jewelry to mangle. The only medical that is actually polite about jewelry is the dentist.
They are just as weird about tats. I am not allowed to donate blood locally. It has beeen well over a year since my last tat, and I have had a negative HIV screening since then. Still they won't allow me to give blood and blame it on the tats. Truthfully I think that having a girlfriend has as much to do with it. Having tats, piercings, or a girlfriend should not make me ineligable to donate. All those things are well within the acceptable parameters of donating. Still they don't allow it, and what is more some of the hospital lab techs suit up to within a hair shy of hazmat gear before doing so much as a throat swab. Pick your bias, it probably applies to one of them or another, the rest are probably just generally paranoid.
NightMist
Local hospital rules may vary. Red Cross restrictions state that if the tats are more than a year old or done professionally in a state that requires inspections that they are not a bar to donateing. Same for piercings.
Of course what somebody at your local center believes may over ride the national rules, as per my other post.
NightMist
I am not allowed to give blood anymore due to my lupus. This was after being diagnosed in 1987, and donating blood every three months from '80 to '94. I had even been found as a match as a bone marrow donor, so you can imagine the disappointment when the guidleines were updated.
Here > Local hospital rules may vary. =A0Red Cross restrictions state that if
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